60 Dtffertatwn on the Life and Writings Oj

Robert of Gloucefter wrote in a language that was neither Saxon nor Englifh, though compounded of a little of both [r]. But, in- afmuch as this poet wrote to be underftood, his language muft have been that of the time in which he lived, and not being Saxon, but a confufed medley of that ancient language, of Nor- man-French, and of the new Englifh which was juft then coming into exiftence, let it be confidered whether Mary, who had to make herfelf miftrefs of the uncouth language of Robert of Gloucester, was capable of underftanding that of king Alfred. For the above rea- fons I cannot but decide againft this monarch ; but mine is merely an individual opinion, and certainly liable to confutation. The MS. in the Royal library, 15 A. VII. which contains a translation into Latin profe of 56 ./Efbpian fables, purports that they were rendered into Englifh by the orders of king Alfred [j]. Spelman informs us that he caufed feveral learned men to inftruct his people by means of fongs and apologues in the vulgar tongue [/] ; this might lead us to imagine that the above work was performed by one or more of thofe perfons whom the king was fond of collecting about his throne ; but Spelman has furnifhed no proof of this fact whatever, and therefore it muft be entirely rejected. Beiides, the objections we have already ieen adduced againft Alfred himfelf, militate, with equal force, againft the learned men of his kingdom. The names of Senefchal, Jufticiar, Vifcount, Provoft, Bailiff, Vaffal, &c. which occur in thefe fables, both in the Latin text and French tranflation by Mary, ought naturally to have been found in the Englifh verfion. Now thefe feveral terms were all, according to Madox, introduced by the Normans [//] ; and the morals to thefe fables, which make r J Johnfon's Hiftory of the Engliih Language, p. 5, &c. [5] Bibl. Reg. 15 A. VII. Praif. ad Fabul. [t~] Spelman. loc. cit. p. 89. [] Madox's Hiftory of the Exchequer, c. 4. frequent